IP Library Granted Patent US 7,480,957
Granted Patent B2
US 7,480,957 · App. 10/913,394 · Granted Jan 27, 2009

In-vehicle vacuum system

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,480,957
App. No.
10/913,394
Granted
Jan 27, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A direct port vacuum cleaning system comprises a vacuum cleaner housing including a vacuum generating unit having a blower within a blower housing, and a debris canister housing detachably directly connected to the blower housing providing a defined path for a flow of air through the system. The debris canister housing has an air input and outlet directing the flow of air along the defined path into the debris canister housing, out the canister air outlet, and directly into the blower housing when the canister air outlet is connected directly to the air inlet of the blower housing. The vacuum cleaner housing is shaped for disposition between the outer shell of a vehicle body and an inner surface panel inside a vehicle; or within the back cushion of a seat within the vehicle; or within a cabinet located between two laterally spaced, side-by-side seats in a vehicle.

Claims (31)

1. A direct port vacuum cleaning system for use within a vehicle having a battery, said cleaning system comprising:

a) a vacuum cleaner housing including a structural configuration to fit within a vehicle, said vacuum cleaner housing including vacuum generating means disposed therein,

b) said vacuum cleaner housing with said vacuum generating means being disposed between the outer shell of the vehicle body and an inner surface panel inside the vehicle,

c) said vacuum generating means including blower means within a blower housing, and debris canister housing means having air outlet means for detachably directly connecting to blower air inlet means of the blower housing for providing a defined path for a flow of air through the system, said debris canister housing means including air input means for directly, detachably attaching a direct port vacuum cleaner hose to direct an air/debris mixture into said debris canister housing means when using the vacuum generating means for cleaning debris from the vehicle,

d) said blower means including rotatably mounted impeller means, and electric motor means for rotating the impeller means within the blower housing, and

e) electric power coupling means for electrically connecting said electric motor means to said vehicle battery to rotate said impeller means,

f) said blower housing including air exhaust means for directing said flow of air from said blower air inlet means and out said air exhaust means of the blower housing when the impeller means is rotated within said blower housing,

g) said canister air input means being effective to separate said debris from said air/debris mixture received into the canister housing means.

2. A direct port vacuum cleaning system for use within a vehicle having a battery, said cleaning system comprising:

a) a vacuum cleaner housing including a structural configuration to fit within a vehicle said vacuum cleaner housing including vacuum generating means disposed therein,

b) said vacuum cleaner housing with said vacuum generating means being disposed within the back cushion of a seat within said vehicle,

c) said vacuum generating means including blower means within a blower housing, and debris canister housing means having air outlet means for detachably directly connecting to blower air inlet means of the blower housing for providing a defined path for a flow of air through the system, said debris canister housing means including air input means for directly, detachably attaching a direct port vacuum cleaner hose to direct an air/debris mixture into said debris canister housing means when using the vacuum generating means for cleaning debris from the vehicle,

d) said blower means including rotatably mounted impeller means, and electric motor means for rotating the impeller means within the blower housing, and

e) electric power coupling means for electrically connecting said electric motor means to said vehicle battery to rotate said impeller means,

f) said blower housing including air exhaust means for directing said flow of air from said blower air inlet means and out said air exhaust means of the blower housing when the impeller means is rotated within said blower housing,

g) said canister air input means being effective to separate said debris from said air/debris mixture received into the canister housing means.

3. A direct port vacuum cleaning system for use within a vehicle having a battery, said cleaning system comprising:

a) a vacuum cleaner housing including a structural configuration to fit within a vehicle said vacuum cleaner housing including vacuum generating means disposed therein,

b) said vacuum cleaner housing with said vacuum generating means being disposed within a cabinet located between two laterally spaced, side-by-side seats in said vehicle,

c) said vacuum generating means including blower means within a blower housing, and debris canister housing means having air outlet means for detachably directly connecting to blower air inlet means of the blower housing for providing a defined path for a flow of air through the system, said debris canister housing means including air input means for directly, detachably attaching a direct port vacuum cleaner hose to direct an air/debris mixture into said debris canister housing means when using the vacuum aeneratina means for cleaning debris from the vehicle.

d) said debris canister housing means including baffle means for diverting debris from the air/debris mixture and said debris canister air inlet means being effective to receive said input air/debris mixture into said canister housing means alone a first direction, and said canister air outlet means being effective to discharge air from said canister housing means along a second direction, said first and second directions are disposed at an angle with respect to each other to enhance diversion of the captured debris from the air/debris input mixture) to separate said debris from said air/debris mixture received into the canister housing means,

e) said blower means including rotatably mounted impeller means, and electric motor means for rotating the impeller means within the blower housing, and f) electric power coupling means for electrically connecting said electric motor means to said vehicle battery to rotate said impeller means, g) said blower housing including air exhaust means for directing said flow of air from said blower air inlet means and out said air exhaust means of the blower housing when the impeller means is rotated within said blower housing, h) said blower air exhaust means being effective for directly. detachably attaching said direct

4. A direct port vacuum cleaning system as defined in claim 1 wherein said air exhaust means includes a rigid tube that extends through said vacuum cleaner housing and outwardly from said vehicle.

5. A direct port vacuum cleaning system as defined in claim 1 wherein said air exhaust means includes a rigid tube that extends through and outwardly from said vacuum cleaner housing into said vehicle.

6. A direct port vacuum cleaning system as defined in claim 1 wherein said canister housing means is composed of rigid, air impermeable material.

7. A direct port vacuum cleaning system as defined in claim 2 wherein said air exhaust means includes a rigid tube that extends through said vacuum cleaner housing and outwardly from said vehicle.

8. A direct port vacuum cleaning system as defined in claim 2 wherein said air exhaust means includes a rigid tube that extends through and outwardly from said vacuum cleaner housing into said vehicle.

9. A direct port vacuum cleaning system as defined in claim 4 wherein said air exhaust means includes a rigid tube that extends through said vacuum cleaner housing and outwardly from said vehicle.

10. A direct port vacuum cleaning system as defined in claim 3 wherein said air exhaust means includes a rigid tube that extends through and outwardly from said vacuum cleaner housing into said vehicle.

11. A direct port vacuum cleaning system as defined in claim 2 wherein said canister housing means is composed of rigid, air impermeable material.

12. A direct port vacuum cleaning system as defined in claim 3 wherein said canister housing means is composed of rigid, air impermeable material.

Assignments (6)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 11, 2024
From: SHOP VAC CORPORATION
To: GREAT STAR TOOLS USA, INC.
Reel/Frame 066778/0864 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 13, 2021
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: SHOP VAC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 054976/0664 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 21, 2017
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS SUCCESSOR US AGENT
To: SHOP VAC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 044798/0760 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 21, 2017
From: SHOP VAC CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 044956/0302 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 31, 2013
From: SHOP VAC CORPORATION
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 031892/0631 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 9, 2009
From: GANZENMULLER, WILLIAM V.
To: SHOP VAC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 022793/0382 →